Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to General [Sir Ian Hamilton, General Officer Commanding-in Chief, Mediterranean] on the favourable prospects open to aeroplanes and airships in the Mediterranean, and his intention to start Air Stations at Malta and Gibraltar. [Carbon copy].

Letter from King George V (York Cottage, Sandringham, Norfolk) to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], praising his reply to the Treasury memorandum on the naval building programme, and supporting the Admiralty's case for the four battleships provided in the programme. The King also praises WSC's "zeal and ability" at the Admiralty, sympathising with his present difficulties.

Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to King George V, with thanks for his letter of 18 January, stating that difficulties with the Treasury over the naval building programme "though serious, are not insuperable". [Hand-written copy by Edward Marsh, Private Secretary to WSC].

Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to David Lloyd George [Chancellor of the Exchequer] on the Naval Estimates, stating that while he would do his best to work to the figures mentioned in his letter, he could not be bound to them "in any extraordinary or improper sense". WSC adds that while he recognised Lloyd George's friendship, he would ask no favours, and would enter into no "irregular obligations". [Hand-written draft, signed by WSC].

Letter from 2nd Lord Liverpool [Governor of New Zealand, earlier Arthur Savile Foljambe] to Lewis Harcourt [Secretary of State for the Colonies] recommending Commander Carr of HMS Psyche for promotion, stating that he had been of great assistance during the strike. [Typescript copy].

Letter from Lieutenant-General Sir Douglas Haig to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] commenting on the "Report on the Organisation and Training of the Royal Naval War College". Haig states that while progress had been made in the establishment of a Naval War Staff, and that the need for higher training was accepted by Naval Officers, a great deal remained to be accomplished [annotated by WSC "put by with file on subject not to be circulated"]. [Original manuscript, with typescript copy; see CHAR 13/26/15-36 for Haig's notes on the report].

Notes by Lieutenant-General Sir Douglas Haig on the report of the committee on the organisation and training of the Royal Naval War College. [Typescript copy; see CHAR 13/26/11-12 for covering letter].

Memorandum by WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on trade protection on and after the outbreak of war. [Typescript, written August 1913, with hand-written revisions, April 1914; see also CHAR 13/26/83-84].

Letter from Sir T Vansittart Bowater, Lord Mayor of London, to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] passing on the resolution of a meeting of the Citizens of London, giving the support of the commercial community for "any measures, financial or other - that may be necessary to ensure the continued supremacy of the Navy and the adequate protection of the trade routes of the Empire".

Letter from Herbert Asquith [Prime Minister, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on a misconstruction put on the words of Prince Louis of Battenberg [1st Sea Lord, later 1st Lord Milford Haven].

Letter from Frederick Butler [Private Secretary to Lewis Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies] to Edward Marsh [Private Secretary to WSC] forwarding a letter from 2nd Lord Liverpool [Governor of New Zealand, earlier Arthur Savile Foljambe] sent to Harcourt, recommending Commander Carr of HMS Psyche. Annotated by WSC.

Letter from General Sir Ian Hamilton, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mediterranean, to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on naval aviation in the Mediterranean, supporting WSC's proposal to establish air stations at Malta and Gibraltar. Hamilton comments on the possibility of the Navy assuming full responsibility for the defence of places like Malta and Gibraltar, and also mentions his current visit to Australia, reporting a discussion with Senator Millen, the Defence Minister, on Imperial defence.

Minute from Rear-Admiral David Beatty [Commander, 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron] to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet [Admiral Sir George Callaghan], sending his review of the work of the Battle Cruiser Squadron in 1913. [Duplicate typescript].

Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] on Canada's gift of three battleships to the Royal Navy. [Hand-written copy by Edward Marsh, Private Secretary to WSC].

Letter from Sir James Caird (Dundee [Angus, Scotland]) to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on the provision of facilities for the proposed club for flying men in Dundee. Caird asks if a racquet court and two billiard tables would be enough.

Submission from Captain Murray Sueter [Director of Air Department, Admiralty] to WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, on the proposed air base at Dundee [Angus, Scotland]. Sueter regrets that there was no room on the site for a club, and states that he would ask the Station Commander to contact Sir James Caird over the matter.

Submission from [? James Masterton Smith, Private Secretary to WSC] to WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, recommending Lieutenant-Commander Robinson for promotion to Commander. Includes note of WSC's reply, agreeing and making other recommendations for promotions or decorations.

Minute by WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to the Secretary of the Admiralty [Sir (William) Graham Greene], 4th Sea Lord [Captain Cecil Lambert] and others, on the Naval Air Service, stating that the social precedence of flying officers should be regulated by their substantive naval rank. WSC also states that flying officers should wear executive naval uniforms, but that they would be excluded from executive command outside the Air Service. [Carbon copy].

Minute from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to [?] James Masterton-Smith [Private Secretary to WSC] asking him to send WSC's memo [? on the Naval Air Service] to the 1st Sea Lord [Prince Louis of Battenberg, later 1st Lord Milford Haven] and the Secretary of the Admiralty [Sir (William) Graham Greene]. [Initialled by WSC].

Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Rear- Admiral David Beatty [Commander, 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron] with thanks for Beatty's report on the squadron. WSC states that he considers the Battle Cruiser's most "formidable and disconcerting" function was to rupture the enemy's cruiser line, and to attack his cruisers of all kinds wherever found. [Carbon].

Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] (Madrid [Spain]) to Prince Louis of Battenberg [1st Sea Lord, later 1st Lord Milford Haven] stating that he had dealt "comprehensively" with various staff questions, asking him to read an enclosed memorandum [not present] and return it to James Masterton Smith [Private Secretary to WSC] for typing. [Hand-written copy, signed by WSC].

Letter from [?] Augustine Birrell [Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland] (Dublin Castle), to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], reporting a rumour that 5 tons of small arms ammunition had been removed from HMS Pathfinder (one of the ships sent to protect the Irish coast), by Orangemen during an "entertainment" on board.

Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Sir Edward Grey [Foreign Secretary] on a possible meeting between himself and Grand-Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz [Head of the German Navy]. Annotated "[John] Redmond's communique is vy provocative". [Typescript copy].

Letter from King Alfonso XIII of Spain, to WSC, with thanks for a gift of books, and also expressing disappointment that he would be unable to attend any Naval manoeuvres. Alfonso comments that Parliament had spent May and June discussing the personal power of the King, and it would be better for him not to go anywhere near a British warship.

Letter from Edward Marsh [Private Secretary to WSC] to 2nd Lord Esher [earlier Reginald Brett], on the Glasgow Water Scheme, commenting that Admiralty interests would not be affected by the scheme. [Hand-written copy].

Letter from Augustine Birrell [Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland] to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on rumours of an impending coup in Ulster, stating that it was unlikely that the Third Reading of the Home Rule Bill would pass without some "theatricality".

Minute from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], to the Secretary of the Admiralty [Sir (William) Graham Greene], and the 1st Sea Lord [Prince Louis of Battenberg, later 1st Lord Milford Haven] and 4th Sea Lord [Captain Cecil Lambert], on the Naval Air Service, particularly the rank and status of Squadron Commanders, the question of uniform and the call-up of reservists. [Typescript copy].

Letter from James Masterton Smith [Private Secretary to WSC] to Captain Sydney Hall, on Hall's proposal to produce a film of life in the Navy. Masterton Smith states that the Admiralty had decided to invite certain established motion picture firms to state the terms which they were prepared to offer for the privilege of making a film of life in the Navy; he regrets that Hall would not be able to tender for the film as he had no link with any film-producing firm. [Carbon copy].

Minute from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], to the 1st Sea Lord [Prince Louis of Battenberg, later 1st Lord Milford Haven] on the defence of Malta, with Battenberg's reply. [Typescript, initialled by WSC and Battenberg].

Minute from James Masterton Smith [Private Secretary to WSC] to the First Lord's Private Office, Admiralty, on the Treasury's refusal of permission to begin work on the new naval College at Osborne [Isle of Wight].

Minute from Rear-Admiral Archibald Moore [3rd Sea Lord] to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on the report by Augustine Birrell [Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland] on the rumour that 5 tons of small arms ammunition had been taken from HMS Pathfinder by Orangemen in Northern Ireland. Moore rejects calls for an official enquiry. Also includes WSC's reply, commenting that the captain of HMS Pathfinder had "shown much less than usual naval dignity and self restraint", but that there was no point pressing the matter further. [Hand-written, initialled by WSC].

Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to King Alfonso XIII of Spain, regretting that the King would be unable to see a Fleet firing, for political reasons, and commenting on the forthcoming mobilisation of the Fleet. WSC also comments on his hopes for progress on Ireland. [Hand-written copy by Edward Marsh, Private Secretary to WSC].

Minute from Thomas Macnamara [Financial Secretary to the Admiralty] to WSC, on the Royal Naval College, Osborne [Isle of Wight] stating that a Supplementary Estimate would be impossible to arrange before the House of Commons rose for the summer Recess.

Letter from General Sir Charles Douglas [Chief of the Imperial General Staff] to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on the problem of recognition of friendly aircraft. Douglas states that he had issued orders to Commands not to fire on aircraft pending further orders, and gives a list of prohibited areas, where airships would be fired at if they did not make the prescribed signal. Douglas also comments on sending infantry to guard strategic sites against attack.

Minute from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to the 1st Sea Lord [Prince Louis of Battenberg, later 1st Lord Milford Haven] on ship dispositions, also on the protection of magazines and oil tanks from "evilly disposed persons" and attacks by aircraft. [Typescript, initialled by WSC, and annotated by Battenberg].

Letter from F E Smith [later 1st Lord Birkenhead] to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] stating that he had spoken to Andrew Bonar Law [Leader of the Opposition] confirming that if Germany violated Belgian neutrality the Government could rely on the full support of the Unionist Party.

Minute by the Air Department, Admiralty, on prohibited areas for British airships. Includes note from Captain Murray Sueter [Director, Air Department] to the 1st Sea Lord [Prince Louis of Battenberg, later 1st Lord Milford Haven].